In one focused day, the Summit brought together leaders, energy and digital experts, innovators and visionaries to explore how AI & Data, sector coupling, cyber resilience and AI platforms are already reshaping Europe’s energy system — and what this means for organisations in practice. The quality of dialogue and openness of exchange left participants genuinely energised. 

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a buzzword or a distant promise. It’s being deployed today to revolutionize how we generate, distribute, and consume energy. This post explores the executive playbook for digital transformation and showcases real-world use cases that demonstrate the staggering efficiency gains possible with AI. 

Tadej Justin from MEDIUS addressed a critical challenge in solar forecasting: most machine learning models are site-specific and cannot be applied to new locations without historical data. He introduced SunSafe AI, a generalized deep learning model that can predict solar irradiance for any location in Slovenia, even those without historical data. This breakthrough removes a significant barrier to the rapid deployment of new solar assets. 

Blaž Krese from GEN-I delved into the engineering challenges of managing distributed assets like battery storage systems. He stressed that achieving reliable flexibility from a virtual power plant (VPP) requires more than just algorithms. The key is high-frequency monitoring, robust feedback loops, and smart pooling algorithms that account for the real-world physical conditions of each unit, such as surrounding temperature and potential data interruptions.  

Petre Bozhikov from Craftworks presented a use case that perfectly illustrates the transformative power of AI. Working with Verbund, Austria’s largest electricity producer, Craftworks developed an AI-powered solution that optimizes hydropower plant operations. The results are staggering: a process that previously took four full-time employees three weeks to complete is now done in under three minutes. Beyond the time savings, the solution enables the generation of more electricity from the same amount of water—a significant sustainability win. 

Uršula Krisper from Elektro Ljubljana discussed the Synergy-NETS project, which explores the interaction between electricity and district heating systems in Ljubljana. The project is testing the flexibility potential of various assets, including CHP units, EV charging stations, and even CNG compressors for public buses, demonstrating the complex, interconnected nature of modern urban energy systems.  

Alan Hadžić from SmartIS emphasized a foundational principle: to achieve maximum efficiency, you must start with your data. He introduced the Observe, Control, React (OCR) framework, which enables agnostic data collection, builds knowledge through visualization and dashboards, and then applies intelligence to automate responses, thereby optimizing both energy production and consumption. 

Matija Mlakar from Siemens Energy introduced the OMNIVISE Energy Management System, an advanced, cloud-based control layer that optimizes dispatch and bidding for complex energy systems. By leveraging digital twins and machine learning, the system determines the most profitable scenarios across various markets, including ancillary services, and can autonomously execute them. This is the future of energy operations: systems that think, learn, and optimize in real-time.  

AI in energy has moved decisively from experimentation to execution. The use cases presented at Digital Energy Summit 2025 prove that real value is unlocked when high-quality data, domain expertise, and AI are tightly integrated into daily operations. 

Across solar forecasting, hydropower optimization, virtual power plants, and urban energy systems, the message was consistent: speed, scalability, and system awareness matter more than theoretical accuracy. Organizations that invest in robust data foundations, digital twins, and operational AI frameworks are already achieving dramatic efficiency gains – doing more with the same assets, in a fraction of the time. 

The competitive edge in the energy transition will not come from having AI, but from deploying it where decisions are made, at the pace the system requires. 

DES is where Europe’s digital energy leaders meet to read the direction of the transition,  before it becomes mainstream and where the rubber meets the road. 

Join us at the next edition of EU Regional Digital Summit: 2–3 December 2026 in Ljubljana. Be part of the conversations shaping Europe’s digital energy future – and consider bringing your own use case to the stage. 

In one focused day, the Summit brought together leaders, energy and digital experts, innovators and visionaries to explore how AI & Data, sector coupling, cyber resilience and AI platforms are already reshaping Europe’s energy system — and what this means for organisations in practice. The quality of dialogue and openness of exchange left participants genuinely energised. 

As the energy sector becomes increasingly digital and interconnected, the stakes for cybersecurity have never been higher. A successful cyberattack on critical energy infrastructure could have devastating consequences for millions of people. At the same time, policymakers across Europe are grappling with how to accelerate the energy transition while ensuring that the new systems are secure, efficient, and accessible to all. This post explores the latest initiatives in cybersecurity, the role of policy in driving change, and the often-overlooked importance of the human factor in the energy transition. 

As energy systems become more digital, they also become more vulnerable. Andrej Bregar from Informatika presented the NGSOC (Next-Generation Security Operations Centre) project, a comprehensive EU-funded initiative to strengthen cybersecurity in the energy sector. The project demonstrates how AI-driven threat detection, real-time anomaly analysis, and collaborative cyber threat intelligence sharing can protect Europe’s increasingly digitalized energy infrastructure. 

The NGSOC project integrates advanced tools like the Behavioural Intrusion Prevention System (BIPS) with over 80% detection accuracy and the NG-SIEM for real-time event correlation. These tools enable automated incident response and collective defense mechanisms against sophisticated cyberattacks targeting critical energy assets. 

In Slovenia, Gorazd Rolih from ELES presented the ALiEnS-SOC project, a strategic initiative to strengthen cybersecurity in the country’s energy sector. The project aims to establish a national Security Operations Center (SOC) for the energy sector, leveraging an AI-driven system for real-time threat detection, analysis, and autonomous response, ensuring compliance with EU legislation like NIS2. 

Jožek Gruškovnjak of SAP provided a clear, actionable framework for executives seeking to harness AI. He argued that to truly leverage AI, organizations must manage the convergence of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology). His “executive playbook” for the short term consists of four essential actions: 

1. Leveragethe Cloud: Cloud platforms provide the scalability and flexibility needed to deploy AI solutions across the organization. 

2. Get Your Data in Order:Data is the fuel for AI. Without clean, well-organized data, AI models will fail. This is often the most challenging step, butit’s non-negotiable. 

3. Embed AI into Business Processes:Don’tjust add AI as a layer on top of existing processes. Redesign your processes around AI to unlock its full potential. 

4. Lead the Change:AI adoption requires leadership commitment and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

This strategic approach moves AI from a buzzword to a core business driver, enabling organizations to compete in the digital age. 

Filip Kowalski, also from SAP, showcased how AI is revolutionizing asset lifecycle management. He explained that SAP’s AI-first approach, with its system of interconnected AI agents, can automate and optimize everything from maintenance planning to field service dispatch. The key insight is that AI should be viewed as a collaborator that works alongside human experts, augmenting their capabilities by processing vast amounts of unstructured data and automating complex tasks. 

The panel discussion “The Rise of AI in Energy: From Algorithms to Autonomous Systems,” moderated by Gorazd Ažman (BPT) with Davor Aničić (Velebit AI), Štefan Furlan (Dodona Analytics), and Filip Kowalski (SAP), offered crucial insights into how to successfully adopt AI in the energy sector. 

The panelists agreed that building trust in AI requires starting with small, tangible pilot projects. The concept of a “minimum lovable product”—delivering something valuable to the client in a matter of weeks—was highlighted as a key strategy for gaining buy-in and demonstrating immediate value. 

The discussion also framed AI not just as a tool, but as a future collaborator. AI agents are poised to work alongside human experts, augmenting their capabilities and freeing up human talent for higher-level strategic work. As one panelist noted, AI will not just optimize existing processes but will fundamentally change the industries we operate in. The example of autonomous vehicles was used to illustrate this point: the logic for placing EV chargers will shift entirely from driver convenience to the operational and economic needs of the autonomous fleet and the grid itself. 

Perhaps the most important insight from the panel was this: technology alone is not enough. Human behavior remains a critical variable in energy consumption. Overcoming inefficient habits requires a combination of user education and smart control systems that can prevent wasteful energy use without sacrificing comfort. 

This is where the energy transition often stumbles. We can build the smartest buildings and the most efficient grids, but if people don’t understand how to use them or aren’t motivated to change their behavior, the potential gains are lost. Effective policy, clear communication, and thoughtful system design that makes the right choice the easy choice are all essential. 

AI is becoming a core operating capability of the energy sector, but its success depends as much on people and processes as on algorithms. 
The discussions at Digital Energy Summit 2025 made one thing clear: organizations that combine strong executive leadership, clean and trusted data, secure digital foundations, and user-centric design are the ones turning AI into measurable business value. 

Cyber resilience, regulatory alignment, and human behavior are not side topics; they are enablers of scale. Without them, AI remains a pilot. With them, it becomes a system-wide accelerator of efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness. 

DES is where Europe’s digital energy leaders meet to read the direction of the transition,  before it becomes mainstream and where the rubber meets the road. 

The quality of dialogue and openness of exchange left participants genuinely energised. DES 25 was this year delivered in cooperation with partners Informatika, Orgrez, NITES, Cigre – Cired. 

Join us at the next edition of EU Regional Digital Summit: 2 – 3 December 2026 in Ljubljana. Be part of the conversations shaping Europe’s digital energy future – and consider bringing your own use case to the stage. 

In one focused day, the Summit brought together leaders, energy and digital experts, innovators and visionaries to explore how AI & Data, sector coupling, cyber resilience and AI platforms are already reshaping Europe’s energy system — and what this means for organisations in practice. The quality of dialogue and openness of exchange left participants genuinely energised. 

The energy transition is not just about adding more renewable capacity. It’s about fundamentally reimagining how we manage, distribute, and balance energy across Europe. At the EU Regional Digital Energy Summit 2025 in Ljubljana, leading experts shared critical insights into the technologies and strategies that will define the grid of tomorrow. This post explores the paradigm shift toward active grid management, the urgent need for flexibility, and the transformative power of sector coupling. 

For decades, distribution system operators (DSOs) have managed grids in a largely passive manner—building infrastructure to accommodate demand as it grew. But the renewable energy revolution has changed the game. Gregor Taljan of Energienetze Steiermark explained that DSOs must now transition to active grid management, where flexibility becomes a viable alternative to traditional grid expansion. 

However, Taljan cautioned that not all flexibility is created equal. Flexibility must be correctly located and consistently reduce grid load to be effective. Digital solutions like forecasting and flexibility platforms are essential, but their economic efficiency must be carefully evaluated against classical solutions. The key is finding the right balance between technology and pragmatism. 

Nico Keyaerts from ACER brought a European perspective to the flexibility challenge. What was once a theoretical concept is now an urgent reality driven by massive renewable energy penetration. The problem manifests in two critical ways: oversupply periods (when solar generation peaks at noon, driving prices negative) and scarcity periods (when demand spikes but generation is low, driving prices extremely high). 

Keyaerts emphasized that no single solution will solve this problem. Instead, a comprehensive portfolio of flexibility measures is required—including demand response, energy storage, smart metering, and non-wire solutions like dynamic line rating. Critically, consumer engagement through dynamic pricing contracts, combined with education and automation, is essential to unlock this flexibility potential across Europe. 

The panel discussion “Bridging Power and Digital: Utilities and Industry in the New Era,” led by Uroš Kerin (EIMV) with Klemens Reich (Austrian Power Grid AG), Goran Levačić (HOPS), and Jody Verboomen (Siemens Energy), established the digital twin as the non-negotiable foundation of the modern digital grid. A digital twin provides the complete, real-time observability required to understand the state of the grid at any moment. 

Beyond mere observation, the panel highlighted the power of physics-informed AI. By combining physical models with AI, it is possible to create highly accurate “virtual sensors” that can predict critical parameters (like the hotspot temperature of a transformer) without the need for expensive physical hardware. This allows operators to safely push assets closer to their operational limits. 

One of the most compelling insights from the summit came from Miha Bobič of Danfoss. While Europe has achieved a 15% CO2 reduction in buildings (falling short of the 22% target), the real challenge is that 75% of the building stock is highly inefficient. Bobič argued that sector coupling—connecting electricity, heat, and cold systems—is the key to decarbonization. 

His critical insight is that heat and cold storage offer enormous, untapped potential for flexibility and system inertia, yet remain overlooked in Europe’s energy transition. By prioritizing heat as a storage medium and integrating it with renewable generation through heat pumps and intelligent controls, Europe can create efficient, resilient systems that generate value for all stakeholders while achieving the 2050 decarbonization goal. 

Vojtech Vavřička of Orgrez Group demonstrated how this vision is being realized in practice. He showcased how their platform optimizes the operation of heating plants by using predictive models for electricity prices and smartly managing thermal storage. Their innovative business model—based on profit-sharing rather than service fees—is designed to accelerate adoption in a traditionally conservative market. 

Martin Feder from Schneider Electric delivered a powerful message on the necessity of collaboration. His core argument was that building decarbonization is impossible without grid decarbonization, making sector coupling and deep collaboration between building automation and energy providers the only path forward. He also pointed out that retrofitting the vast stock of existing buildings is significantly more carbon-efficient over the long term than focusing solely on new constructions. 

Beyond cybersecurity, the energy transition also requires a rethinking of how buildings consume energy. Gusts Kossovičs from eu.bac (European Building Automation and Controls Association) described building automation and control systems (BACS) as the “brain of the building.” The data is compelling: BACS can reduce energy consumption by up to 46% with a payback period of just three years. 

While the EU is mandating these systems, Kossovičs noted that the primary challenge lies in national-level implementation and compliance. The upcoming Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) is poised to become a critical driver for market adoption by providing a standardized rating of a building’s intelligence. Standardization and clear metrics are essential to accelerate the transition. 

The panel discussion “Integrating Heat, Power and Data: The Sector Coupling Advantage,” moderated by Miha Bobič (Danfoss) with Vojtěch Vavřička (ORGREZ TRADE), Gusts Kossovičs (eu.bac), and Martin Feder (Schneider Electric), addressed a critical gap: the disconnect between ambitious EU policies and national-level implementation. 

The consensus among panelists was clear: the narrative must shift from the “burden” of mandates to the “opportunity” of lower costs, improved health, and increased comfort that smart, efficient buildings provide. This reframing is essential for gaining public support and accelerating adoption. 

The panel also identified the aging grid infrastructure as the single biggest bottleneck to deep decarbonization and effective sector coupling. While AI and smart controls can optimize what we have, significant investment in modernizing the physical grid is unavoidable. 

The future grid will be flexible, interconnected, and intelligent. It will leverage sector coupling to integrate electricity, heat, and cold systems. It will rely on digital twins and AI to optimize operations in real-time. And it will require a holistic approach, with simultaneous investment in hardware, software, automation, and the people and processes that manage the system. The transition is already underway—and the opportunities are immense. 

DES is where Europe’s digital energy leaders meet to read the direction of the transition,  before it becomes mainstream and where the rubber meets the road. 

The quality of dialogue and openness of exchange left participants genuinely energised. DES 25 was this year delivered in cooperation with partners Informatika, Orgrez, NITES, Cigre – CIred. 

Join us at the next edition of EU Regional Digital Summit: 2–3 December 2026 in Ljubljana. Be part of the conversations shaping Europe’s digital energy future — and consider bringing your own use case to the stage. 

Meet the Leaders Moving Europe Forward 

Among 20+ speakers, you will hear insights from: 

Filip Kowalski, SAP, Gorazd Rolih, ELES, d.o.o., combined transmission and distribution system operator of the Republic of Slovenia, Hans Smid, Schneider Electric, Gusts Kossovics, eu.bac, Gregor Taljan, Energienetze Steiermark GmbH, Klemens Reich, APG Austrian Power Grid AG, Davor Anicic, Velebit.AI, Jan Krispin, ORGREZ, Gorazd Ažman, BPT d.o.o., Jozek Gruskovnjak, SAP, Andrej Bregar, Informatika, Matija Mlakar, Siemens Energy, Petre Bozhikov, craftworks GmbH , Bojan Milicic, Medius, Alan Hadžić, Smartis, Miha Bobic, Danfoss.

The next decade will not reward those who watch, but those who integrate. 

AI is transforming the fundamentals of flexibility, risk, resilience, and coordination. Digitalisation is becoming the architecture of business advantage. And integration is now the operating logic of leadership. 

No pressure. Just reality. And a room full of people who understand it the same way you do. 

Join us in Ljubljana, 3 – 4 December 2025 and step into the conversations shaping Europe’s integrated digital energy future.